The world's largest software company and producer of the forthcoming Xbox 360 have vowed that the new console will see an unprecedented level of security.

After die-hard fans learned how to modify their Xbox consoles with hard drive updates, mod chips and media-centre upgrades, Microsoft are responding by integrating advanced security directly into their new console's hardware.

"We've taken security to the hardware level and built it in from the ground up," said Chris Satchell from the Xbox Advanced Technology Group.

Despite mod-chips being made illegal after Sony's legal victory in July of 2004, there are many who still find ways of modifying their consoles to circumvent certain security measures.

"There are going to be levels of security in this box that the hacker community has never seen before." continued the Xbox developer.